MARTIAL arts expert Tyrone Smith's knockout looks have won him the Face of South Cheshire competition.

The handsome 21-year-old of Church Lane in Wistaston became the first man to win in the seven-year history of the contest.

He was the unanimous choice of the judges in a closely-fought competition at Crewe Alexandra's Signals Lounge on Saturday night.

The MMU Cheshire sports science student was one of only three men among the 25 finalists of the popular annual event which is staged by Steve Burgin Hairdressing, of Nantwich, in association with the Chronicle, and attracted more than 100 entrants.

The competition aims to prove there are model looks in South Cheshire to rival anywhere in the country and previous winners have gone on to land top modelling assignments.

The main prize was a £1,000 professional photo-shoot sponsored by Wella.

Tyrone, who came to live in Crewe with his family from South Africa seven years ago, is a martial arts and wrestling instructor in his spare time at the Camm Street Gym in Crewe and has just finished a sports science degree.

He was stunned to be crowned as winner. He said: 'I have never entered anything like this before. It was my girlfriend, Becci Kilvert who said I should give it a go and I am glad I did.

'I never expected to win because you always think the title is going to go to one of the girls and there weren't that many men in it.'

While Tyrone is looking forward to the photo-shoot and possibly landing some modelling jobs, he has his sights set on his different career.

He explained: 'I've just finished my degree and I am waiting for the result. Next week I am starting a job as a care support worker working for Alternative Futures at Haslington with people with learning disabilities.

'I hope to go on and possibly do a nursing degree so that I can work in mental health care as I want to do something that will help other people.'

Second place in the competition went to 17-year-old student Jessica Steele, of Rope Lane, Crewe, and third was 19-year-old moth-er-of-two Charlotte Fleet, of Prunus Road, Crewe.

Last year's winner Amanda Hendrie, who has featured in a national advertising campaign for Marks & Spencer, joined Steven Burgin in presenting the prizes.

Co-presenters were Steven Burgin and Natalie Wilcock. Proceeds were for the Wingate Special Children's Trust at Wren-bury.